San Jose City Hall - by Daderot
After a month long debate over a proposed strong mayor measure and outrage over lack of community involvement in the decision, San Jose leaders unanimously approved putting decisions about the city’s future into the hands of community members. The Charter Revision […]
After a month long debate over a proposed strong mayor measure and outrage over lack of community involvement in the decision, San Jose leaders unanimously approved putting decisions about the city’s future into the hands of community members.
The Charter Revision Commission, created Tuesday, will consist of residents appointed by Mayor Sam Liccardo and the City Council.
The committee will help decide whether or not San Jose should adopt a strong mayor system, whether mayoral elections should be aligned with presidential elections and campaign finance reforms, including prohibiting contributions from lobbyists and requiring lawmakers to recuse themselves from votes involving organizations donating $250 or more to their campaigns.
While campaign finance reform, measures to move the mayoral election and increase the mayor’s powers won’t go to voters this November, the Charter Revision Commission would have until March 2022 to research what systems would be best for the city and make recommendations for a 2022 ballot measure.
Ohio Statehouse
Ohio Lawmakers intend to remove Speaker of the House Larry Householder, arrested last week in connection with a $60 million federal bribery investigation. Republican house members gathered yesterday at a downtown hotel to make a decision. House rules require a […]
Ohio Lawmakers intend to remove Speaker of the House Larry Householder, arrested last week in connection with a $60 million federal bribery investigation.
Republican house members gathered yesterday at a downtown hotel to make a decision.
House rules require a session to be convened in order to hold a vote to remove Householder.
Currently, it is up to the speaker to call or schedule a session.
In the event he or she is absent, Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Jim Butler can call the House in for a session.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine also announced plans to present lawmakers with a proposal to provide more transparency in campaign finance laws for 501(c)(4) committees, which under current law do not have to disclose contributors.
Connecticut State Capitol
On July 28, the Connecticut Legislature adjourned a special session after passing four bills related to absentee voting, police accountability, telehealth, and insulin drug pricing. Additionally, House Bill 6004 expands the ability of voters to use no-excuse absentee voting and […]
On July 28, the Connecticut Legislature adjourned a special session after passing four bills related to absentee voting, police accountability, telehealth, and insulin drug pricing.
Additionally, House Bill 6004 expands the ability of voters to use no-excuse absentee voting and early voting.
The bill was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns heading into the general election.
The four bills will be transmitted to the desk of Gov. Ned Lamont for his signature.
Campaign Finance National: “Trump Campaign Accused of Using ‘Pass-Through’ Vendors to Obscure $170 Million in Payments” by Soo Rin Kim and Will Steakin for ABC News Michigan: “Mystery Money Fuels Campaign to Limit Whitmer’s Emergency Powers” by Craig Mauger for […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Trump Campaign Accused of Using ‘Pass-Through’ Vendors to Obscure $170 Million in Payments” by Soo Rin Kim and Will Steakin for ABC News
Michigan: “Mystery Money Fuels Campaign to Limit Whitmer’s Emergency Powers” by Craig Mauger for Detroit News
Elections
Georgia: “Georgia Senator Is Criticized for Ad Enlarging Jewish Opponent’s Nose” by Rick Rojas (New York Times) for MSN
Ethics
National: “DeVos Aide Played Role in Helping Failing For-Profit Colleges, Texts and Emails Show” by Danielle Douglas-Gabriel for Washington Post
California: “Developers Allegedly Bribed an L.A. Councilman. What Happens to Their Building Plans?” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times
Missouri: “Marijuana Licensing Woes Dog Missouri’s Governor” by Mona Zhang for Politico
New York: “Trump Lawyers Renew Legal Assault on Tax Records Subpoena” by Larry Neumeister for AP News
Ohio: “Criminal Charges Against Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder Echo Past Pay-to-Play Allegations” by Sabrina Eaton (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN
Lobbying
National: “The Husband Is a Top Public Health Official. The Wife Does Lobbying. She Deleted a Tweet That Showed Them Together at a Public Event.” by Paul McLeod for BuzzFeed News
Ohio Statehouse
A bipartisan group including Republican Rep. Gayle Manning and Democrat Rep. Jessica Miranda have introduced House Bill 737. This bill will amend campaign finance law regarding independent expenditures and political action committees. This bill modifies the definition of person to […]
A bipartisan group including Republican Rep. Gayle Manning and Democrat Rep. Jessica Miranda have introduced House Bill 737.
This bill will amend campaign finance law regarding independent expenditures and political action committees.
This bill modifies the definition of person to include corporations and labor organizations.
Additionally, it requires any independent expenditure of $500 or more to be reported on a statement of contributions and expenditures.
The bill also modifies the definition of political action committee to eliminate the exclusion for a political club.
This effort to increase campaign finance transparency follows unethical activities involving Speaker of the House Larry Householder and House Bill 6.
Republican lawmakers are meeting today for an unofficial vote on whether to expel Householder.
Campaign Finance National: “Political Donors Whose Businesses Got PPP Loans Injected $52 Million into 2020 Election” by Karl Evers-Hillstrom for Center for Responsive Politics National: “Kimberly Guilfoyle Under Fire for Trump Fundraising Disarray” by Alex Isenstadt for Politico Ohio: “Bribery […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Political Donors Whose Businesses Got PPP Loans Injected $52 Million into 2020 Election” by Karl Evers-Hillstrom for Center for Responsive Politics
National: “Kimberly Guilfoyle Under Fire for Trump Fundraising Disarray” by Alex Isenstadt for Politico
Ohio: “Bribery Case Shines Light on Ohio’s Campaign Finance Laws, Nonprofits” by Jim Provance for Toledo Blade
Elections
National: “Wealthy Donors Pour Millions into Fight Over Mail-In Voting” by Brian Slodysko and Thomas Beaumont for AP News
National: “Cities, Advocates Sue Trump to Block Census Immigrant Memo” by Michael Macagnone for Roll Call
Ethics
Canada: “Trudeau Strains to Contain Political Scandal Engulfing His Family” by Andy Blatchford for Politico
Missouri: “Documents Say Political Consultants Tied to Mantovani Tried to Help Polish Stenger Lies about Northwest Plaza” by Jeremy Kohler for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
New Jersey: “Gannett Reporter Faces Ethics Questions After Repeated Asks of N.J. Governor About Indoor Dining” by David Wildstein for New Jersey Globe
Rhode Island: “Judge Overturns $200 Ethics Fine for R.I. Supreme Court Justice” by Edward Fitzpatrick for Boston Globe
Campaign Finance Missouri: “PAC Money to Page from Lobbyist Under FBI Scrutiny Draws Interest in St. Louis County Executive Race” by Jack Suntrup for St. Louis Post-Dispatch Elections National: “How the Republican National Convention Came Undone” by Michael Scherer, Josh […]
Campaign Finance
Missouri: “PAC Money to Page from Lobbyist Under FBI Scrutiny Draws Interest in St. Louis County Executive Race” by Jack Suntrup for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Elections
National: “How the Republican National Convention Came Undone” by Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey, and Annie Linskey (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump’s Assault on Election Integrity Forces Question: What would happen if he refused to accept a loss?” by Elise Viebeck and Robert Costa (Washington Post) for Anchorage Daily News
Pennsylvania: “Former Congressman Ozzie Myers Caught in 1970s Abscam Sting Has Been Indicted Again – This Time for Election Fraud” by Jeremy Roebuck (Philadelphia Inquirer) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Dems Rebuke Culture of Sexism in Defense of Ocasio-Cortez” by Caitlin Oprysko and Sarah Ferris for Politico
Maryland: “Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby Asks Inspector General’s Office to Investigate Her Travel, Businesses” by Jessica Anderson for Baltimore Sun
North Dakota: “North Dakota Ethics Commission Requests Attorney General Opinion; Bill Drafts in Works for 2021” by Jack Dura for Bismarck Tribune
Lobbying
National: “Chris Christie Cashes in On Coronavirus Lobbying” by Theodoric Meyer and Adam Cancryn for Politico
Illinois: “Feds Subpoena AT&T as Part of Investigation into Speaker Madigan and Lobbying” by Jason Meisner, Hal Dardick, Jamie Munks, and Ray Long for Chicago Tribune
Jacksonville, Florida skyline
President Trump canceled the Jacksonville portion of the Republican National Convention due to safety concerns over COVID-19. Delegates will still meet in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the president will give his renomination address. However, it will not be the scale […]
President Trump canceled the Jacksonville portion of the Republican National Convention due to safety concerns over COVID-19.
Delegates will still meet in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the president will give his renomination address.
However, it will not be the scale typical of a party convention.
The Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee has been similarly downsized.
Legislative Assembly of Ontario building - Saforrest (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)
On July 21, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario adjourned until September. During the previous five months lawmakers authorized limited sittings and focused predominantly on passing legislation to deal with the public health and economic effects caused by the novel coronavirus […]
On July 21, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario adjourned until September.
During the previous five months lawmakers authorized limited sittings and focused predominantly on passing legislation to deal with the public health and economic effects caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak. 18 pieces of legislation in total were passed, with six receiving unanimous consent of all parties.
The Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, September 14, at 10:15 a.m.
Campaign Finance Montana: “GOP Candidate for Montana Auditor Could Face Campaign Fines” by Mary Beth Hanson for AP News New York: “NY Heavyweights Control Campaign Funds Even After Leaving Office” by Joe Maloney (CNHI News Service) for Adirondack Daily Enterprise […]
Campaign Finance
Montana: “GOP Candidate for Montana Auditor Could Face Campaign Fines” by Mary Beth Hanson for AP News
New York: “NY Heavyweights Control Campaign Funds Even After Leaving Office” by Joe Maloney (CNHI News Service) for Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Elections
National: “Trump Seeks to Stop Counting Unauthorized Immigrants in Drawing House Districts” by Katie Rogers and Peter Baker (New York Times) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Matt Gaetz Appears to Run Afoul of House Ethics Rules” by Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan for Politico
California: “George Esparza, Ex-Aide to LA Councilman Jose Huizar, Pleads Guilty in Corruption Probe” by City News Service for Los Angeles Daily News
Florida: “Orange County Commissioner Betsy VanderLey’s Business Paid Thousands by County Contractor” by Jason Garcia for Orlando Sentinel
Kentucky: “Well-Connected Unemployment Director Quietly Fired Amid Crisis” by Eleanor Klibanoff and Jared Bennett for Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting
Lobbying
National: “Pandemic Lobbying Tops K Street Agenda, but Spending Dips” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
Texas: “If Texas Capitol Remains Closed, Lobbyists Say Special Interests Will Thrive Away from Public View” by John Enger for KXAN
Mississippi State Capitol - by Ken Lund
A special election for Mississippi State Senate District 39 has been set for September 22. The seat was vacated by Sally Doty after her appointment as Staff Director of the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff by Gov. Tate Reeves.
A special election for Mississippi State Senate District 39 has been set for September 22.
The seat was vacated by Sally Doty after her appointment as Staff Director of the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff by Gov. Tate Reeves.
Alabama State Capitol Building
Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special election to replace Rep. Ron Johnson of House District 33, who passed away on July 14. The primary election for the seat will be held on October 6 with a runoff set for […]
Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special election to replace Rep. Ron Johnson of House District 33, who passed away on July 14.
The primary election for the seat will be held on October 6 with a runoff set for November 3, if necessary.
The special general election will be held on January 19, 2021.
Campaign Finance National: “As Trump Slumps, Republican Donors Look to Save the Senate” by Shane Goldmacher for New York Times Elections Florida: “Priorities USA and Others Agree to Drop Voting Lawsuit Against Florida” by Gary Fineout for Politico Ethics National: […]
Campaign Finance
National: “As Trump Slumps, Republican Donors Look to Save the Senate” by Shane Goldmacher for New York Times
Elections
Florida: “Priorities USA and Others Agree to Drop Voting Lawsuit Against Florida” by Gary Fineout for Politico
Ethics
National: “Twitter Takedown Targets QAnon Accounts” by Kate Conger (New York Times) for Hartford Courant
National: “Trump’s Request of an Ambassador: Get the British Open for me” by Mark Landler, Lara Jakes, and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN
Colorado: “Hickenlooper’s Ethics Defense Costs Taxpayers More Than $133,000” by Jason Wingerter for Denver Post
Michigan: “Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland Charged with Misconduct in Office, a Felony” by M.L. Elrick for Detroit Free Press
Ohio: “Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, 4 Others Charged in $60M Bribery Case Tied to Bailout of Akron’s Energy Harbor” by USA Today Network Ohio for Akron Beacon Journal
Lobbying
National: “Financially Strapped Trucking Firm Tripled Lobbying Days Before Winning Coronavirus Relief Loan” by Jessica Wehrman for Roll Call
Canada: “How Washington Works: Inside an annual field trip for Canada’s senior bureaucrats” by Nick Taylor-Vaisey for Maclean’s
Ohio Statehouse
House Speaker Larry Householder was arrested in connection with a $60 million federal racketeering case related to House Bill 6, Ohio’s new nuclear bailout law. FBI Agents assisted by the Perry County Sheriff’s Department made the arrest Tuesday morning at […]
House Speaker Larry Householder was arrested in connection with a $60 million federal racketeering case related to House Bill 6, Ohio’s new nuclear bailout law.
FBI Agents assisted by the Perry County Sheriff’s Department made the arrest Tuesday morning at Householder’s farm in Glenford.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio David DeVillers are expected to hold a press conference on the federal racketeering case Tuesday at 2:30 pm.
Householder, a farmer and businessman, has led the GOP-controlled Ohio House since January 2019.
He was previously House Speaker from 2001 to 2004.
However, he left due to term limits and returned to the House in 2017.
